Malvern Hills

Malvern Hills' population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, health and work life.

The population reached nearly 75,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Malvern Hills increased by 3.4%, from almost 72,200 to 74,600.

The addition of just under 2,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Malvern Hills was home to, on average, 0.92 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fewer married people

The proportion of married people fell in Malvern Hills, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands, except Worcester.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 52% to 48%.

During this period, Malvern Hills overtook Solihull to become the West Midlands local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of married people.

In 2011, just over one in two (54%) people aged 16 and over in Malvern Hills said they were married, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 24% to 26%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Malvern Hills that rented privately increased from 8.6% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of Malvern Hills households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. But despite the improvement, Malvern Hills remained less healthy than the regional average 14% in the West Midlands described their health as good in 2011).

Private renting in Malvern Hills increased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Malvern Hills, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Malvern Hills residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.4% to 5.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Malvern Hills residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Malvern Hills decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Malvern Hills, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Malvern Hills working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.4%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Malvern Hills decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Malvern Hills, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Malvern Hills residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 3.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage of Malvern Hills residents that were self-employed increased from 13% to 14%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.8% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Malvern Hills increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Malvern Hills, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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